Device for adjusting the position of a mold for continuous casting in a stand

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for adjusting the connections to be made between a mold for continuous casting and particular guide elements of a casting support stand, while mold and stand are disconnected. A plate having apertures corresponding in location to the position of the particular guide elements; laterally adjustable sleeve elements in the apertures, the sleeve elements adapted for securing in a particular position. An indexing tube in each sleeve element adapted for up and down sliding in the respective sleeve element, and having inner dimensions for receiving a guide element when the plate is particularly placed on the stand; and indexing pins placeable in parts into the indexing tubes and projecting therefrom, for simulating the relative position of the guide elements and permitting adjusting of connecting elements on the mold in particular relation to each other as established by the indexing pins as placed, for the connecting elements to assume position relation as needed for respectively receiving the guide elements when the mold is mounted to the stand.

llnited States Patent 1 Kurth et al.

[4 1 Sept. 11, 1973 [73] Assignee: Mannesmann Aktiengesellschalt,

Dusseldorf, Germany [22] Filed: Apr. 3, 1972 [2l] Appl. No.: 240,658

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Primary ExaminerThomas H. Eager AttmeyRalf H. Siegemund [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for adjusting the connections to be made between a mold for continuous casting and particular guide elements of a casting support stand, while mold and stand are disconnected. A plate having apertures corresponding in location to the position of the particular guide elements; laterally adjustable sleeve elements in the apertures, the sleeve elements adapted for securing in a particular position. An indexing tube in each sleeve element adapted for up and down sliding in the P 1971 Germany P 760-6 respective sleeve element, and having inner dimensions for receiving a guide element when the plate is particu- [52] [1.5. Cl 29/200 P, 164/83. lafly placed on the stand; and i d pins placeable [51] lllt. Cl B23]! 19/00 in parts into the indexing tubes and projecting there [58] Fleld of Search 29/200 P, 200 J, from for simulating the relative position of the guide 29/5263 200 R; 164/83 elements and permitting adjusting of connecting elements on the mold in particular relation to each other [56] References C'ted as established by the indexing pins as placed, for the UNITED STATES PATENTS connecting elements to assume position relation as 3,166,803 1/1965 Ruckstuhl [64/83 x needed for p ti y receiving the gu de elements 3,374,826 3/1968 Black, Jr 29/5263 when the mold is mounted to the stand.

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Claims, 1 Drawing Figure 2,] l7,l60 5/l972 Germany 29/200 P l l l w E l n 1 1 1 1 ill 1:!

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DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING THE POSITION OF A MOLD FOR CONTINUOUS CASTING IN A STAND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to apparatus for adjusting positionable connecting elements for connecting a mold to a casting stand in a continuous casting machine, the adjustment to be carried out prior to mounting the mold to the stand.

The basic construction of a continuous casting machine is, for example, described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,374,826. The machine includes a ladle, a distributor vessel or tundish underneath the ladle, and molten metal pours from the tundish into a mold. The mold is mounted on particular support means which oscillate so that the mold undergoes up and down movement during casting. Rolls are provided directly underneath the mold for supporting the casting as it drops off the open bottom of the mold. Next in line of casting withdrawal are nozzles for spraying cooling water onto the casting, and transport rolls withdraw the casting from the machine. 1

US. Pat. No. 3,166,803 suggests the providing of additional rolls between the transport rolls and the mold for supporting the casting strand as it passes the line of spray nozzles. The latter patent does not disclose mold oscillating equipment, but upon applying the teaching of US. Pat. No. 3,374,826 to the teaching ofU.S. Pat. No. 3,166,803, it follows that the additional support rolls must extend into the oscillating support structure for the mold. U.S. Pat. No. 3,166,803 teaches additionally that guide elements are to be provided so as to maintain a particular position between strand guiding stand and mold.

A mandrel is usually disposed in the mold for continuous casting of a hollow ingot or tubular strand.

Clearly, in that situation, the mutual orientation ofmold and guide means ofthe withdrawal equipment stand becomes quite critical, because the casting is positionedabove the stand, not only by the mold but also by the mandrel.

It was found that stands and frame construction for guide and support rolls in a continuous casting machine undergo some distortion, warping or the like, due to the intense heat developed around the machine. As a consequence, the stand-and the position of the rolls therein may change relative to the mold. Furthermore, molds are sometimes replaced or changed, e.g., for refinishing or for casting a different type billet etc. Whenever the mold is mounted to the stand, careful position adjust ment is needed. However, the down time of the machine will be quite extensive if the adjustment is carried out during the installation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide for adjustment equipment and tooling which permits adjusting of the mold connecting elements prior to reinstallation and connection to the stand so that the mold is installed with preestablished adjusted position of the pertinent'connecting elements. It is another object of the invention to provide for external and removable adjustment tooling, preparing a mold for continuous casting of hollow ingots prior to installation on the stand and with particular position relation to the guide and support elements of a casting supporting stand, the

guide elements provided particularly for guiding the mold during oscillation.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is suggested to provide a tool plate having a plurality of apertures corresponding to the number of guide elements of the stand and receiving laterally displaceable indexing sleeves into which indexing pins can be placed. The sleeves can be secured to the plate upon indexing with the guide elements on the stand. Preferably, tubular pin holders are inserted in the sleeves for up or down positioning therein. The indexing pins when inserted in the pin holders, are used to index the tool plate with guide sleeves on the mold for these sleeves to obtain mutual position relation identical to the position relation of the guide elements on the stand with which the guide sleeves are to cooperate once the mold is installed.

The tooling plate is provided additionally with first means for placing the tooling plate onto the stand just as the mold will be placed, and the tooling plate is provided with second means for positioning of the mold thereon, just as the mold will be positioned on the stand. These first and second means are part of the tooling and of vertically aligned construction. These means define intersecting vertical planes, the intersection, in turn, defining the relative position of the casting strand axis.

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter. which is regarded as the invention, it is believed that the inventi0n,'the objects and features of the invention and further objects, features and advantages thereof will be better'understood from the following description taken in'connection with the accompanying drawings in which: v

The FIGURE illustrates somewhat schematically a section view of the adjusting tool in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention and in relation to several parts of a continuous. casting machine.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings, E1 and E2 denote equipment in and of a continuous casting machine to be particularly interconnected, using a tool T for preparing positioning and indexing of elements so as to permit the equipment to be interconnected in particular position relation.

The equipment El includes a mold Ito be used for continuous casting. A mounting plate 4 is releasably or fixedly connected to the .lower end of mold l. The mounting plate 4 carries downwardly extending holders 3 for pivotally supporting sleeve elements 2. These sleeve elements 2 have respectively vertical axes and each may be pivoted also about a vertical axis. Plate 4 may also support tail pulleys which are not shown. The mold l is further provided with carrier elements 11 having particular apertures 10.

The equipment E2 includes a casing 5, connected to means (not shown) for imparting vertical oscillating motion upon the casing'S. The casing serves as mold mount for causing the mold to move up and down during casting. A casting strand support structure and stand, including support tubes 6, are disposed for extending into the inside of casing 5. The support struc- 3 tioning pins 8 having slightly tapering top. These pins extend in vertical direction.

As equipment E1 is mounted to equipment E2, pins 8 will be received by sleeves 2, and the latter will oscillate relative to the former as casing and mold undergo vertical oscillation. Also, a mounting flange 25 of casing is provided with pins 9 respectively traversing the aperture 10 when carriers 11 rest on flange 25 of the assembled machine. Sleeves 2 must register precisely with pins 8 in this position. The indexing and adjusting tool T serves the purpose of establishing this registering and indexed relation prior to assembly of the machine.

The tool T includes a mounting plate 12 having plural apertures 13. There are as many apertures 13 as there are guide pins 8 of the casting strand support stand. However, these apertures are relatively wide. Flanged sleeves 14 are placed respectively in the apertures 13. The sleeves proper have sufficiently small outer diameter for permitting each sleeve 14 to laterally slide in the respective aperture of plate 12. On the other hand, the flanges of the sleeves 14 are sufficiently large so that the sleeve can hang in the respective aperture in any of the several positions.

Each sleeve 14 receives a tubular element 15 permitted to undergo vertical adjustment. Each tubular element 15 has an inner diameter sufficient for a pin 8 to slide therein but with as little lateral play as possible. Each tube 15 has a flange l6, and an indexing pin 17 with an annular collar 27 can be stuck into the tube 15 while collar 27 rests on flange 16. The upper portion of each pin 17 as projecting above collar 27 has configuration resembling pins 8. These elements 17 can also be termed indexing pins.

Plate 12 is provided with holding and support construction which include a first support flange 18 with apertures 19. These apertures may receive the pins 9 on flange 25 for indexing the position of tool T relative to equipment E2. An upper flange 20 is provided with pins 21, resembling pins 9 in configuration and being adapted for insertion in apertures l0 of mold holder 1 1. Thus, pins 21 permit indexing of tool T relative to equipment El.

The center lines of pins 21 and apertures 19 are aligned and disposed in a vertical plane that includes the center axis of the casting (assuming the pins 21 are received in apertures 10). Another set of these positioning means 10, 21, 9, 19, may be provided in a plane transverse to the plane of the drawing and intersecting the plane of the drawing in the center axis of casting.

This center axis of casting is represented in tool T by a plummet suspended at 22. That plummet will coincide with the casting (and mold center)-axis when the tool T is indexed to the mold (by pins 21 being inserted in apertures 10). When the tool is removed, the plummet still represents the casting axis relative to the several indexing means on the tool 19, 21, 15, 17.

The adjusting tool is now used as follows. It is assumed that mold 1 has been removed, for example, for refinishing or outright replacement. Also, initial installation can be considered on the same basis. Now, the same or a different but similarly constructed mold is to be installed. The stand with support elements 6 and casing 5 with oscillatory driver is or remained installed.

First, the tool T, particularly the plate 12, is disposed on the stand in that pins 9 enter apertures 19, and holder 18 rests on flange 25. Now, tubes 15 are or are attempted to be pushed down (as shown for the righthand tube) and sleeves 14 are shifted laterally until the tubes 15 can and do receive the pins 8. After the lower part of tubes 15 receive the respective pins 8, sleeves 14 are bolted to plate 12. Plate 12 as well as the flanges of sleeves may have sufficiently wide apertures for passing through of bolts to be tightened by means of nuts. This way, the sleeves 14 are position arrested relative to plate 12 (and in relation to each other), whereby inserted tubes 15 index with pins 8.

Next, tool T is removed, i.e., lifted, off flange 25 and the lower portions of indexing pins 17 are placed into the several tubes 15. These pins 17 have the same position relation to each other as well as to the vertical axes through apertures 19 and pins 21, as have the pins 8 to each other and to pins 9 respectively. Tubes 15 are pushed up in sleeves 14 as shown for the left-hand configuration.

Next, the mold is placed onto the tool T whereby the pins 21 are received by apertures 10. Sleeves 2 are pivoted until receiving the upper portions of pins 17. It can be seen that the holders 3 should be adjusted prior to holder 11 being seated on holder 20, if the sleeves 15 are already pushed up. However, these steps can be reversed. in any event, after pins 17 in tubes 15 are inserted in sleeve 2, proper indexing relation is established and the sleeves 2 will be locked in position. Now, these guide sleeves 2 have exactly the same position to each other as have the pins 8.

Finally, tool T is removed from equipment El, and the latter is placed onto the casing in that pins 9 are received by apertures 10, and holder 11 rests on flange 25. As the mold 1 is lowered onto casing 5 in that position, sleeves 2 will readily slide onto the pins 8.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above but all changes and modifications thereof not constituting departures from the spirit and scope of the invention are intended to be included.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for adjusting the connection to be made between connecting elements on a mold for continuous casting and a casting support stand having particular guide elements, the adjustment to be made for disconnected mold and stand, comprising:

a plate having apertures corresponding in location to the position of the particular guide elements; laterally adjustable sleeve elements in the apertures, the sleeve elements adapted for securing in a particular position;

an indexing tube in each sleeve element adapted for up and down sliding in the respective sleeve element, and having inner dimensions for receiving a guide element when the plate is particularly placed on the stand; and

indexing pins placeable in parts into the indexing tubes and projecting therefrom, for simulating the relative position of the guide elements and permitting adjusting of connecting elements on the mold in particular relation to each other as established by the indexing pins as placed, for the connecting elements to assume position relation as needed for respectively receiving the guide elements when the mold is mounted to the stand.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1, the plate provided with positioning means respectively mating with positioning means of the stand and of the mold.

6 3. Apparatus as in claim 2, the positioning means disvided in vertical alignment. posed in vertical planes that include the center axis for 5 Apparatus as in claim 2, wherein the stand i a casting when the plate is indexed with the mold.

4. Apparatus as in claim 2, the positioning of the plate comprising first and second positioning means respectively for engagement with the mold and machine tioning means of the P stand parts, the first and second positioning means proeludes oscillating mold support means provided with 5 positioning means permitting indexing with the posi- 

1. Apparatus for adjusting the connection to be made between connecting elements on a mold for continuous casting and a casting support stand having particular guide elements, the adjustment to be made for disconnected mold and stand, comprising: a plate having apertures corresponding in location to the position of the particular guide elements; laterally adjustable sleeve elements in the apertures, the sleeve elements adapted for securing in a particular position; an indexing tube in each sleeve element adapted for up and down sliding in the respective sleeve element, and having inner dimensions for receiving a guide element when the plate is particularly placed on the stand; and indexing pins placeable in parts into the indexing tubes and projecting therefrom, for simulating the relative position of the guide elements and permitting adjusting of connecting elements on the mold in particular relation to each other as established by the indexing pins as placed, for the connecting elements to assume position relation as needed for respectively receiving the guide elements when the mold is mounted to the stand.
 2. Apparatus as in claim 1, the plate provided with positioning means respectively mating with positioning means of the stand and of the mold.
 3. Apparatus as in claim 2, the positioning means disposed in vertical planes that include the center axis for a casting when the plate is indexed with the mold.
 4. Apparatus as in claim 2, the positioning of the plate comprising first and second positioning means respectively for engagement with the mold and machine stand parts, the first and second positioning means provided in vertical alignment.
 5. Apparatus as in claim 2, wherein the stand includes oscillating mold support means provided with positioning means permitting indexing with the positioning means of the plate. 